OXBRIDGE PROJECT CHALLENGE: LET’S DESIGN A WORSHIP SPACE!

'Design a new worship space for the Old Oak Common Development Project'. This was the challenge given to BDA's Oxbridge Project by Mr Colin Lovell Programme Management Officer for the Diocese of London last November. It also marked the beginning of an exciting collaboration between the group and various elements of the London Diocese.

Since then, the Oxbridge Project (a group of the most able students in Years 7-9) have participated in talks from clergy and architects, gone on a site visit to local church St Katherine's, Westway and worked in groups to create plans and presentations for their 'perfect church'.

As usual, the students have acquitted themselves very well, receiving compliments on their enthusiasm and excellent questions from all involved.

The collaboration culminated in each of the five groups giving a presentation to Archdeacon Duncan Green on Monday February 6th. The Venerable Duncan Green praised all the students on both their design skills and on the theological knowledge that they had acquired during the project.

After deliberating at length in private, he eventually selected team “Saphira” as the winners (Sara Abuzaid, Samara Hackett-Valton, Fatima Awadalla and Bithiah Akakpo, all from 9B) with team “Resilience” as the worthy runners up (Nashwan Rawn and Zosar El Jack Ali, 7B and Jamie Levinson 8B).

The Archdeacon was struck by the thought that team “Saphira” had given to the community aspect of their church, as well as the original design.

We hope to arrange a meeting between the winners and the actual architects selected for the new worship space that will be built at nearby Old Oak Common development in order to facilitate an exchange of ideas!